New homeless shelter to be erected

Work on a brand new multi-million pound shelter for homeless people in Lincoln is to begin being built, to be ready for 2011.

The Pathways project, which will cost £2.5 million, will be erected by building company Lindum along Beaumont Fee, and will be ready to use in spring 2011. The ground work has already been completed.

Faculties at the Pathway Centre will include a training kitchen, social hub and dining area, a medical room, family councelling room, garden, offices for 11 staff and multi-purpose meeting rooms, which will also be used as a cinema, quiet room, classroom and art and crafts room.

Nottinghamshire-based homelessness charity and RSL Framework is managing the building of the accommodation and will be the owner when it opens. They work closely with local charity the Nomad Trust, to help provide a service for the city’s homeless.

Reverend Hamish Temple, Chair of the Nomad Trust, said: “The Nomad Trust is passionate about providing a good service for homeless people in Lincoln, and we are looking forward to working with Framework, who have a very successful service right across Nottinghamshire. As a project board member, I am particularly looking forward to seeing the building, purpose built for the people it will help, taking shape on Beaumont Fee.”

Andrew Redfern, Chief Executive of Framework, said: “Framework is delighted to have been selected to develop this landmark project in Lincoln. We are strongly committed to the provision of high quality supported accommodation for vulnerable people.

We look forward to working closely with the Nomad Trust, the City of Lincoln Council and other partners to deliver a service that will help to change the lives of local people who are homeless, including those who have been sleeping rough.”

John Bibby, Director of Housing and Community Services at the City of Lincoln, which is managing the overall project, said: “There is a real need for a good quality homelessness service in Lincoln and we’re excited that the Places of Change funding has meant that the new service in the city will be one of a kind in the country – drawing support from health and education authorities to give the service users the best chance to get their lives back on track.”

There was originally a delay in the project when the site had to be changed from Lytton Street, due to a Town Green application there. A Town Green status means land cannot be built upon as they are designed for recreational purposes only.